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Perfect Flag Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting for Easy Patriotic Celebrations

flag cake with cream cheese frosting - featured image
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A simple yet festive flag cake featuring moist, lightly spiced layers and a tangy cream cheese frosting, perfect for patriotic celebrations and easy to prepare in under 90 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature (or dairy-free milk if preferred)
  • Red and blue gel food coloring
  • 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Fresh blueberries (for the blue stars)
  • Strawberries or raspberries, sliced (for the red stripes)
  • Optional: edible glitter or star-shaped sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter with sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain (white), add red gel food coloring to one, and blue gel to the other. Mix until colors are vibrant.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans or bake layers one at a time. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  8. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
  9. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and salt. Beat until fluffy.
  10. Place blue layer on serving plate and spread frosting evenly. Add white layer, repeat frosting, then top with red layer.
  11. Cover entire cake with a thin crumb coat, chill 15 minutes, then apply final frosting layer smoothly.
  12. Decorate with blueberries in top-left corner to mimic stars and create red stripes with sliced strawberries or raspberries.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Gel food coloring keeps batter thick and vibrant. Chill frosting if too soft before spreading. Level cake layers with serrated knife for neat stacking. Bake layers close to serving time or make a day ahead and store wrapped tightly. Parchment paper prevents sticking and eases cleanup.

Nutrition

Keywords: flag cake, cream cheese frosting, patriotic cake, Fourth of July dessert, easy cake recipe, red white and blue cake

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/perfect-flag-cake-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting-for-easy-patriotic-celebrations/